Sickness bug fails to deter Oban youngsters as they defeat Marr in West Region Cup
OBAN’S U-16 team welcomed Marr RFC U-16s to Glencruitten on Sunday with the teams battling it out for a place in the first round of the West U-16 Cup.
Marr would provide a tough test, having played in a higher league this season, but would come up against a wellorganised Oban team who have played a record number of U-16 games so far this season.
With a sickness bug taking its toll on the squad, along with a couple of injuries, Oban were forced to start the game with only 13 players, notably missing Tommy MacQuade, Ian Barlow, Sandy Bavington and Angus Neil.
Despite having a numerical disadvantage, Oban started well and were piling the pressure on the away defence. Impressive, too, was the Oban scrum which shoved the opposition off the ball on a few occasions with two fewer players.
Oban took a 5- 0 lead after 20 minutes with centre David Cameron finishing off after collecting a clever kick in midfield from stand- off Archie Spencer. Cameron used his strength well to find space and touch down for the first try of the day. Marr hit back shortly after with a penalty, reducing the score to 5-3.
The home side were aided with the late arrival of Jordan Norman to the team, meaning they now had only one player fewer than the visitors.
Unlucky
Keiron Morrison was unlucky not to add to Oban’s lead with referee Willie Malone disallowing his effort at the tryline for being held up.
Oban played well in the remaining minutes before half-time with some great play in the forwards from the likes of Euan Shearer, Craig Cook, Finn Charlton and Ross McCaskill.
At half-time, the score stood at 5-3 in what was becoming an entertaining game.
The home side looked to ex- tend their lead into the second half but Jordan Norman was taken down short of the line. Some poor discipline at the breakdown let Marr back into the match and they managed to take the lead with another penalty that made it 5- 6.
Oban hit back midway in the second half as fullback Robert MacLaughlin’s clearing kick gave the hosts some great field position. With the ball stolen at the lineout, Oban were again held up over the line resulting in a five-metre scrum.
From a well- organised scrum, the ball found its way out to centre David Cameron, who battled his way through a couple of defenders to score his second try of the game under the posts. With a successful conversion, Oban led 12- 6 with 20 minutes of the match remaining.
Marr pressed hard for a winning try but could not break down a battling Oban defence. The Oban team were left delighted at the final whistle and will now progress to the first round of the cup on February 12 where some formidable opposition await.
Schools rugby
Biggar RFC hosted a combined Oban U13/ U14 team on Sunday. Oban were depleted on numbers due to a sickness bug but still managed to travel with a healthy squad.
Racing four tries clear early on, Oban managed to hold on for an impressive 21-18 win away from home. Next weekend Oban’s U-13 and U-14 boys team along with the U-15 and U-18 girls teams travel to Glasgow to take on Cartha Queens Park RFC.
Girls rugby
For the first time, Oban Lorne/ Oban High School managed to field an U-12 girls team at Stewarts Melville RFC’s U-12 girls festival on Sunday.
The Oban girls were defeated 4-2 by Montrose but recorded victories over Auchterarder and Stewart’s Melville.